Joy-Con drift test
Measure Joy-Con stick drift and test every button on your Nintendo Switch controller in the browser. Then see how Nintendo’s drift repair service works.
Browsers deliberately hide connected controllers until you press a button on one. This is a privacy measure, not a fault. Connect your controller, press any button and it’ll appear here.
Why the Joy-Con drifts
The Joy-Con uses potentiometer sticks. Each stick position is read by a contact sliding along a resistive track and that contact wears the track a little with every movement. Worn areas around the center make the controller report a small movement when nobody is touching the stick. That is stick drift and on this design it’s a matter of when rather than if.
Rest the controller flat and press Measure stick drift above. Readings up to 0.05 are normal tolerance. Past 0.10 most games can’t hide it with their deadzone. The drift guide explains the bands.
How browsers see the Joy-Con
Chromium based browsers recognize Joy-Con over Bluetooth, either one at a time or as a left and right pair that acts as a single controller. A single Joy-Con held sideways has one stick and a reduced set of buttons, so test each one on its own before testing them as a pair. Motion controls, HD Rumble and the IR camera on the right Joy-Con can’t be tested through the standard gamepad interface.
Known issues with the Joy-Con
Stick drift
Joy-Con drift became common enough to prompt class action lawsuits and a change in Nintendo’s repair policy. In 2019 Nintendo began repairing drifting Joy-Con in North and Latin America free of charge, even out of warranty. It later offered free repairs in the UK and several other European countries.
Joy-Con disappears from the PC after using the Switch
A Joy-Con remembers one Bluetooth host at a time in practice. Attaching it to the Switch pairs it back to the console, so it won’t reconnect to a computer until you pair it again from the computer’s Bluetooth settings. It looks like a dead controller but it is only a pairing problem.
How to fix it
Calibrate the sticks on the Switch first under System Settings, Controllers and Sensors, Calibrate Control Sticks. Then pair the Joy-Con to your computer and measure drift here with it resting flat. Anything above 0.05 at rest after calibration is wear. In the Americas and many European countries, use Nintendo’s repair service for drift before paying for anything. If you prefer to fix it yourself, replacement sticks connect with a ribbon cable and need no soldering.
Replacing a stick: connected by a ribbon cable. Replacing a stick needs a small screwdriver and patience but no soldering. The stick drift repair guide covers cleaning and replacement in more detail.
Warranty
Joy-Con carry Nintendo’s standard hardware warranty, typically 12 months. Drift repairs have been offered free beyond that in the Americas and in several European countries. Check Nintendo support for your region since the policy is set by country rather than by warranty date.
Joy-Con questions
Will Nintendo still fix Joy-Con drift for free?
In North and Latin America Nintendo has repaired drifting Joy-Con for free since 2019 without asking for proof of purchase. Similar programs exist in the UK and parts of Europe. Start a service request on Nintendo support for your region to confirm the current terms before you post anything.
Why does only one Joy-Con show up in the browser?
Each Joy-Con is a separate Bluetooth device. The second one only appears after you pair it and press a button on it. Chromium based browsers can combine a paired left and right Joy-Con into one controller once both are connected.
Does this page apply to Joy-Con 2 for the Switch 2?
No. Joy-Con 2 is a different controller with its own design and Nintendo has a separate support article for its sticks. This page covers the original Joy-Con sold with the Switch, Switch OLED and as separate pairs.
Is calibration on the Switch enough to fix drift?
Only for mild cases. Calibration tells the console where center is, which can hide a small offset. A worn stick keeps drifting after calibration and gets worse over time, which is when the repair service or a replacement stick is the fix.
Specifications
| Released | 2017 |
| Stick type | Potentiometer (wears and can drift) |
| Stick part | Potentiometer stick module on a ribbon cable |
| Connections | Bluetooth · Charging Grip over USB |
Sources
- Nintendo Support: Joy-Con control sticks are not responding or respond incorrectly
- Forbes: Nintendo will fix Switch Joy-Con drift issues for free, out of warranty
- TechRadar: UK Nintendo Switch owners can now get their Joy-Con repaired for free
- Nintendo Life: Switch controllers are getting Google Chrome support